Pilsner Urquell - the skunk is gone

The refrigerated shipping/warehousing is great, so it's sad to still see cases sitting "warm on the floor" once they get to the retailers.

And, of course, 12 packs, cans and cases were always available in "lightproof" packaging - never understood the beer geeks (those knowledgeable about the cause of lightstruck beer) who knowingly bought singles or sixpacks exposed to light and then complained about it.

SABMiller's "Best before" date on Pilsner Urquell exported to the US is based on a 9 month shelf life period. The old Miller site used to state it specifically, the current MillerCoors site only says:

"Somewhat longer" ...Oh, thanks for that vague info.

Nine months is their import standard pull date (better than most Euro beers' "one year"), according to their 800 number and confirmed that remains the case for the new P/U in a quote from a M-C's Tenth & Blake official in Lew Bryson's article on the Pilsner Urquell at MBB --- “We have a 9 month shelf life on packaged products and 6 months on draft.”

 

i'm surprised it took you so long - i've been on the "new and improved" PU train for 2 or 3 months now.

 

to my understanding however, these barrels are now only used in-house for taste testing, for consumption at the end of the brewery tour and for draught sales at the brewery's pub. it is distinguished by the name pilsner urquell kvasnicovy or the "unfiltered version". since sometime in the 1990's, all the beer that leaves the brewery is now fermented and lagered in stainless steel, and is all filtered and pasteurized (including kegs), except for high-turnover venues contracted to receive the "tankova" unpasteurized version (but even this is now stainless steel only).

 

You're right, it is 9. I haven't looked it up since the last time I purchased it. Thanks for checking, I was thinking of picking some up this week.

 

Wow, it took only 25 years to fix. I remember back in the 80's the shunky problems with Pilsner Urquell. Back then August Schell had the best pils on the market. I'm now an American Craft Beer Snob.

 

It is also being express shipped now rather than sitting on a boat for 6 weeks. Of course the price has gone up but people aren't complaining so far.

 

I'm surprised, I thought you were one of the few that stayed away from Ab/Inbev. Oh well (scratches Yemenmocha off of his list).

 

Glad to read this! I've been eyeing the new package, wondering if I should try it out. I think I will now.

 

4 pack king cans $3.49 in IL. Refrigerated at Binny's and no light getting in here!

 

Urguell on cask unfiltered and unpastorised is awesome!

 

Agreed I bought a six pack of this last weekend and was very pleased at the change in taste. Great tasting beer, sorry to the haters.

 

The PU in bottles is definitely a step up and just as good as in cans or on draft. However, in the Czech Republic where it's unpasteurized it's simply amazing! And the unfiltered stuff at the brewery... just wow!

 

Yeah I don't get it either, I've been drinking this beer for years without one skunky bottle.

 

I tried some, it is definitely better, but they still pastuerize it so it isn't really the biggest deal.

 

Hm. It's been a while since I've had Pilsner Urquell, I kinda want to get some more now. Does any unfiltered or unpasteurized stuff make it to the U.S.? I had a growler of Brooklyn's Gold Standard Export Kellerbier and thought it was fantastic. I'd love to see more products like that.

 

Tenth & Blake, MillerCoors' specialty division that's responsible now for Pilsner Urquell's importation, supposedly brings it in via air freight for "special events" - probably just insider/industry things, maybe some cities' "beer weeks"?

 

:-(

 

If you're in New York, you could try this place http://hospodanyc.com/photos/photos-beer/ which apparently serves fresh, unpasteurized Urquell in 4 different draft forms with varying degrees of carbonation. Sounds gimmicky, but I've heard it's excellent (across the board).

 

I have been enjoying these since the summer, when I first saw them. Very enjoyable. Still haven't seen the cans, though.

 

Here in Europe, I can find them "fresh" in cans. It's way better than the green bottle version.
Cheers from Switzerland!